CNG vehicles to remain exempt in second phase of odd-even scheme

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Tuesday said CNG vehicles will remain exempt from restrictions during the second phase of odd-even traffic scheme which starts from April 15 while the other exemptions will be announced on April 8.

Briefing the media, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said: "The CNG vehicles shall remain exempt from the second phase of the scheme as well."

The old CNG stickers distributed during the first phase of odd-even scheme shall remain valid for this phase too, he said. "New vehicles will get the stickers from CNG station at CGO complex, Lodhi Road."

He said the decision about other exemptions (women drivers and VIPs) would be taken by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after a cabinet meeting. "We will announce about other exemptions on April 8," he said.

The government will also start the promotion of this scheme from April 1. "Advertisements on buses, metro trains and bill boards would start from April 1," said Rai.

Seeking support from the neighbouring states including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana for spreading awareness about it, he said: "The Delhi government will write letters to neighbouring states including urging them to extend their support in spreading awareness regarding odd-even scheme."

"We seek coordination from other states in order to avoid confusion of the commuters travelling inter-state."

Rai also said that government will start monitoring of environment on trial basis in Delhi and NCR. "From April 6, we will start monitoring units in NCR as well to monitor the pollution level before and after the scheme," he added.

He said that on April 13, the government will organise a meeting at Chhatrasal Stadium where 5000 civil defence volunteers along with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers and conductors will participate and take an oath to make this plan a success.

Prices of most SUVs were cut between Rs 1.1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh following the implementation of GST, which subsumed over a dozen central and state levies like excise duty, service tax, and VAT from July 1.